A new musical on the big screen that features Take That songs has received generally positive reviews from critics.
The stage musical Greatest Days was adapted for the big screen in 2017, and it bears the name of one of the band's biggest hits.
The version for the big screen, which mostly has three and four star reviews, stars Aisling Bea and Jayde Adams.
"A joyful crowdpleaser - whether you like Take That or not," was how Digital Spy characterized it.
Ian Sandwell gave the movie four stars and wrote, "We know what you're thinking. "A jukebox musical using Take That songs? Sounds a little cheesy and probably for the fans only.
But if you skip Greatest Days, you'll miss one of the biggest movie surprises of 2023. It's a sweet celebration of friendship that is tinged with heartache and, in the end, turns out to be a crowd-pleaser. ".
Tim Firth, who has adapted his own stage musical originally titled The Band, is the writer and director of Greatest Days. Coky Giedroyc is the film's director.
Along with her four closest school friends, Bea portrays Rachel, a dedicated NHS nurse who in her adolescence was a huge fan of Take That.
Some of her old friends haven't seen each other in 25 years, but when she wins tickets to see the group in Athens during their reunion tour, she brings them back together.
"A jukebox musical featuring Take That songs might never be one for the cool kids; without a doubt, this is a bit broad," Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian said.
"But it's a feel-good splurge from director Coky Giedroyc and screenwriter Tim Firth, adapting his own stage show, and it's at least as entertaining as the much-hyped Mamma Mia! movies," said Firth. ".
Many of Take That's biggest hits are included in the movie, including Shine, Never Forget, Patience, Back For Good, and Rule the World.
But in the movie, the group is only referred to as "The Boys," not by their real-life name.
Terry Staunton of the Radio Times gave the film a three-star rating and wrote: "At its heart, director Coky Giedroyc's feel-good fare is a tale of everyday, ordinary women taking stock of their lives and pondering what the future holds.
Viewers can expect a string of bangers because Take That's music serves as the film's basis. These songs are well-known and timeless hits whose anthemic qualities made them a lock for a new life on the West End stage in the first place. ".
"Giedroyc doesn't ignore life's inevitable sadnesses," wrote Tom Dawson of Total Film. "Along the way there are unexpected bereavements, family rifts, unfulfilled youthful dreams... It's the uplift that sticks, though. ".
Smooth Radio's Tom Eames gave the cast high praise, saying: "Aisling Bea proves she can lead a film with charm and relatability, while there are standout "watch this space" performances from up-and-comers Eliza Dobson and Jessie Mae Alonzo. ".
Following its London premiere on Thursday evening, Greatest Days is made available in the UK on Friday. It had its premiere last month at the Cannes Film Festival.
Nikki Baughan of Screen Daily stated that although the film may be fueled by the sentimental lyrics of a boy band, it is ultimately a clear-eyed celebration of female friendship.
"Aisling Bea gives the lead role of Rachel, a no-nonsense children's ward nurse in her mid-40s who was a 16-year-old schoolgirl and ardent fan of a boyband only ever known as "The Boys," (played, in excellent casting, by Bea lookalike Lara McDonnell), a sharp wit and necessary levity.
"That's a deep-rooted sentiment that we can all take to heart. Underneath the '90s vibes, colorful production design, and occasionally cringe-worthy boyband lyrics. ".
As far as musicals go, Greatest Days is an enjoyable caper thanks to its amusing reinterpretations of Take That's songs, like the airport-based rendition of Shine that features stylish choreography and elaborate costumes, said Yahoo's Roxy Simons.
Others, however, seem to have been included merely to ensure that fan favorites weren't left off the list. Some songs feel as though they were added on at the last minute. The placement of Patience is a good example of how this can be quite startling. ".
As she put it, "Greatest Days is sure to delight fans of Take That in a new and inventive way. It might not have the longevity of musicals like Mamma Mia! in the long run.
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